There are multiple levels or layers to analyzing a message, including which of the following sets?

There are multiple levels or layers to analyzing a message, including which of the following sets?

• A. Phonemic, phonological, syntactic, and semantic
• B. Pragmatic, semantic, lexical, and discourse
• C. Lexical, phrasal, sentential, and discourse
• D. Grammatical, morphological, and discourse

Answer: (C)

Analyzing a message involves moving from words to larger units: the lexical level looks at word meaning and choice, the phrasal level examines how words group into meaningful phrases, the sentential level concerns how those phrases form complete sentences, and the discourse level covers how sentences connect to create coherent text overall. This set best reflects those progressively larger layers, giving a complete view from word-level details to how ideas unfold across multiple sentences. The other options mix in dimensions that don’t align with this progression. Phonemic/phonological analysis focuses on sounds rather than structure and meaning; pragmatic analysis looks at use and context rather than the structural layers from words up through discourse. Options centered on grammar or morphology omit the broader discourse level and the explicit inclusion of lexical and phrasal analysis.

Analyzing a message involves moving from words to larger units: the lexical level looks at word meaning and choice, the phrasal level examines how words group into meaningful phrases, the sentential level concerns how those phrases form complete sentences, and the discourse level covers how sentences connect to create coherent text overall. This set best reflects those progressively larger layers, giving a complete view from word-level details to how ideas unfold across multiple sentences.

The other options mix in dimensions that don’t align with this progression. Phonemic/phonological analysis focuses on sounds rather than structure and meaning; pragmatic analysis looks at use and context rather than the structural layers from words up through discourse. Options centered on grammar or morphology omit the broader discourse level and the explicit inclusion of lexical and phrasal analysis.